Colts At Patriots

SUNDAY SHOWCASE - AFC Championship

January 18, 2004|By Chris Harry, Sentinel Staff Writer

ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS: The Colts had the third-ranked offense during the regular season, but the postseason version of Indy's "O'' is playing like one of the best in NFL history. In eliminating the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, QB Peyton Manning, WR Marvin Harrison and friends averaged 456.5 yards and 39.5 points. Defensively, however, the Colts can be had. The Chiefs gained 408 yards last week against a defense that finished the season rated 11th overall and showed its vulnerability up the middle by letting K.C. gain 196 yards on the ground and failing to get a sack.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots' statistics hardly are overwhelming, except for the one that says 13 consecutive victories. They have no running game to speak of (100.4 yards a game), but they capitalize on opportunities behind the remarkably steady play of QB Tom Brady. New England won't let Manning drop back and play catch. The Patriots will bring pressure from everywhere -- SS Rodney Harrison is a good bet -- while identifying a couple of Manning's targets and making somebody else beat them.

THE KEY: Indianapolis cannot rely on its running game or defense, so the only way the Colts can win this game is if Manning stays hot. The Colts know the blitzes are coming, so it's a matter of the offensive line matching wits with Coach Bill Belichick's dynamic schemes.

KEY STAT: New England can become the first team since the undefeated 1972 Dolphins to win 14 consecutive games in a season.

THE BUZZ: Are the Patriots going to bore us all the way to the Super Bowl again?